This is the fourth installment in The Phoenix Club series, finally bringing Prudence into the limelight. Having lingered in the background as a Lady's companion since the first book, Prudence steps into a central role, shedding light on her previously enigmatic past.

The narrative kicks off with an accidental abduction orchestrated by Bennett St. James, Viscount Glastonbury. While his likability was questionable in the prior book, I found that he ultimately redeems himself.

Overall, this proves to be a commendable addition to the series, and I look forward to continuing with the subsequent installments.

Title: "Indecent" by Darcy Burke - A Meh Romance

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Having had the opportunity to explore an advanced reader copy of "Indecent" by Darcy Burke, I must admit that this Regency romance left me rather underwhelmed. While the premise showed promise, the execution fell short of my expectations.

The story follows Clara, a strong-willed woman who defies the conventions of her era to manage her late father's printing business. When an anonymous scandalous poem circulates, Clara becomes determined to uncover the mysterious author's identity. In her pursuit, she crosses paths with Oliver, a charming and enigmatic man. While the chemistry between Clara and Oliver is undeniable, the overall narrative lacks the depth and emotional resonance necessary to truly engage the reader. The characters, while likable, fail to exhibit the complexity and development needed to make their romance truly compelling.

What sets "Indecent" apart, albeit not in a positive way, is its inability to fully immerse the reader in the world of Regency romance. Darcy Burke's writing, typically celebrated in the genre, felt somewhat lackluster in this instance. The story's pacing, especially in the middle, dragged on, leading to a lack of engagement with the plot. Despite its promise, "Indecent" left me with a sense of missed potential and a yearning for more emotional depth. If you're seeking a Regency romance that truly sweeps you off your feet, this might not be the book to provide that experience.

*Big Thanks to Darcy Burke, the publisher- Zealous Quill Press, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

You know, sometimes reading about rebellious and outlandish Vicounts and their crazy abductions so he will be forced to marry to save the rec center, I mean, save my family's money troubles is just what the doctor ordered.

So, Bennet St James, the Viscount of Glastonbury, has lost his boxing match, which the winning would have helped him pay off some of his late father's debts, so he moves on to plan C- kidnapping. You know, every historical man's solution. Kidnap a woman so she is compromised and her family is forced to pay you, her kidnapper, a dowery so that you can now wed your kidnapee Lovely. Except the kidnapper has reasons and the kidnapee has emotions or Stockholm Syndrome or something and also secrets.

Ok, so, I was in an off mood when reading this. Yes, it's outlandish. Yes, the true conformity to the times is not strictly adhered to. Yes, it's forced proximity and only a one-bed type situation. Yes, it's silly naive little girls with men that should know better. But, you know what? I. Don't. Care. Sometimes you need to read about silly naive little things doing stuff that is definitely inadvisable and getting the happily ever after. Did I love every moment of it, no, it kind of dragged a bit in the middle, but, I was entertained and rescued off to a fantasy historical world for a few hours. Definitely recommend if that is something you are looking for!

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. The plot was convoluted and unbelievable. The whole story did not work for the time period.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Losing the boxing match was one thing, but Bennet St James, the Viscount Glastonbury, can still catch the lovely Lady Cassandra, marry her, and use her dowry to pay off the sizeable debts he inherited. Organising for Cassandra to be abducted from Croydon and brought to him, he's shocked when it's in fact her companion, Miss Prudence Lancaster, who has arrived, and she's not happy. Prudence is angry that she's been kidnapped, but she's glad that her friend is safe. However, after being forced to spend time with Bennet due to the bad weather, she learns why he came up with this inane plot, and starts to care for him. But her position in life is very different from his, and she has no money when he needs to marry a dowry.

After reading book 2 & 3 in the series, I was looking forward to continuing The Phoenix Club, and Indecent was an enjoyable book. Okay, I wasn't too keen on the kidnapping plot, and was fully prepared to hate Bennet, but he grew on me, as he did on Prudence. I liked her from the beginning, just as I had in the previous books, and was glad we learnt more about her, and her family life. I did guess a little at the twists and turns that the book took, and it felt a little long in places, where it could've been at least 50 pages shorter. Even though, the romance between Bennet and Prudence was sweet, and I was happy for them in the final pages. Hopefully they'll be in book 5, and we'll see more of them now as a married couple!

Indecent is book four of The Phoenix Club series and we are finally getting Prudence's story. She's been in the background since book one a a Lady's companion and it's great to have her front and center. Prudence has formally been a bit secretive about her past and now we get to find out what she's been hiding.
The story begins when she is mistakenly kidnapped by Bennett St. James, Viscount Glastonbury. He wasn't very likable in the previous book, but ultimately I feel like he does redeem himself.
This was a good addition to the series. I will definitely be continuing with it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this story. I wondered if the was more to Prudence and it sure was. I genuinely liked her and Bennett together. I wished more was said about the situation with the Banker's widow

Indecent is the fourth book in The Phoenix Club series. I thought it was a great read. However, the fake dating trope was once again repeated in this book following the previous book. I found the story dragged a bit in the middle; the beginning was quite intriguing and the twist at the end was satisfying.
I would rate this one as 3.5/5

Last year I read the second book of Phoenix Club's series, and I really liked it! I was very impressed about it. So I was very curious about this book.
This is the forth book of the series, but if you haven't read the previous books you can read them as standalones!
The characters were very likeable (I'm honest: Sabrina and her husband are still my favourite!) and the plot was very well written. I'm very curious about the next books!
3 stars

This was a nice addition to Darcy Burke's Phoenix Club series, focusing on two characters from previous books in the series. Prudence Lancaster is a ladies' companion who's been a quiet, enigmatic character in the previous books. Bennet St. James is a man who inherited both a title and crippling debt from his father, and is therefore in desperate need of an heiress to marry. The two are thrown together after a bungled attempt to "kidnap" and elope with an heiress (to whom Prudence is companion) ends up with Prudence herself being the "kidnapee" in a case of mistaken identity. Circumstances lead to their being thrown together for days at an inn, pretending to be newlyweds, and naturally friendship and attraction ensue. Can they overcome Prudence's lack of a dowry, and the mysterious secrets of her birth? Or Bennet's need for a bride with a dowry or her own funds, and his own secret about his family members that have led him to vow he will never have children? Well, this is a romance, so we know the answer - the question is how, and what will their journey be to that inevitable conclusion? And this was a journey that I quite enjoyed.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zealous Quill Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

This was so delightfully surprising.

I don’t say that because I don’t appreciate Darcy Burke’s writing, quite the contrary, I just didn’t expect much from Prudence’s story. I’ll be honest I never really cared for her. She was just always in the background discouraging improper behavior as everyone’s lady’s companion. It took me a while to pick this up because I was just bored with her.

So at the start of this story, I was trudging through. The kidnapping plot threw me for a curveball in the best way. And once things heated up between Ben and Pru, (how cute?) I was invested.

So often in historical romances, the two characters getting together is either literally or essentially impossible due to their stations in life or status, including being already married or of the working class when their love interest is a duke or viscount. I usually hate this because it makes it so hard to root for a relationship that you can’t imagine even happening let alone surviving. When the things that have to occur in order for them to get together are so outlandish or oftentimes morbid, I’m not into it. But something about this just worked. I was so invested in how the two would eventually make it work and was so stinking pleased when they decided to be together because of and not despite all odds. It was so refreshing and sweet.

I don’t want to spoil anything about Pru’s heritage, but let me just say I was delighted and it felt so fitting and perfect. I couldn’t have loved this surprise more.

Overall, I just really love this series and I really love DB’s writing style. I’m excited to keep reading and am so pumped for the next book in the series but I have to wonder…when are we getting Kat’s story?!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This has been an incredible series and it continues to be. I have enjoyed the characters and the development of them that a series like this gives you. We revisit Prudence and Bennet, Viscount Glastonbury, and theirs is a journey and adventure.

There is an abduction, torrential rain, washed out roads, lightening, trees falling everywhere, lies, discoveries of hidden talents and passions and great bread! Prudence just wants to keep her reputation clean and clear of scandal so she can continue being a paid companion. Yes, she has secrets in her past, but she is focused on the future. Bennet is just trying very hard to fix his estate that was left in ruins by his father and take care of his eccentric family.

Since they are forced to be in each other's company due to a very spontaneous and bad decision on Bennet's part, they are stranded in an inn where, through a long list of unfortunate events, they come to know each other and passion starts to bloom. It is fun to see Prudence start to soften toward Bennet, she always is willing to give people a second chance. With all the bad things that happen along their journey you want to wrap Bennet in bubble wrap, but know that each thing is a chance to learn and grow.

As secrets came out I grew more attached to each of them. Prudence's was a complete surprise and turned out so lovely. Bennet's was only a secret from Prudence and his was endearing and sweet. I was enchanted by Bennet's grand gesture and it was brilliant. Seeing the support that came to Prudence warmed my heart and made all the characters even more dear. There is villain that we have met before and he continues to be nasty. I look forward to seeing what happens with him.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in anyway.

While this book is part of a series each book can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the earlier books in this series and I wasn't lost.

Bennet has made some bad decisions but he is motivated by his need to support his relatives. Prudence has been hard done by in the relative department but she still allows herself to hope.

These two characters struggle with their feelings because they know Bennet needs to marry for money but in true fashion, love wins out in the end. I loved the story and the characters and I look forward to reading more.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed Indecent and the trope - abducting the wrong person followed by a love story. I also appreciate the author’s treatment of mental illness and the way those who have it are handled. This is one of my favorite series from the author. Per usual, this addition to the series can be read as a standalone but reading the rest adds context that is helpful to better understanding the characters.

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.

Another great book from Darcy Burke.

Prudence is not having the best day, whilst accompanying the lady she is companion too she finds herself kidnapped.

Bennett is in dire straits, his father gambled away the family money and if he doesn't wed an heiress soon he will lose his homes and the family he protects will be out on the street.

Unfortunately his luck is not in when he realises that not only did he stoop to his lowest level but he kidnapped the wrong person.

His luck is still missing when they get caught in a storm in an Inn, but as time goes by they get closer, why oh why can't she be an heiress.

This was a great book. The characters were engaging and despite his nefarious scheme you still feel sorry for Bennett.

Definitely an enjoyable book.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review

I absolutely adore this series and thing each installment just gets better and better! Darcy Burke has definitely become an auto buy author for me. I find her writing to be compelling, well paced, delightfully plotted and filled with characters that are fun and engaging. This is the forth installment in The Phoenix Club series and it was a wonderful addition, and definitely a new favorite in the series for me.

Indecent starts off with a bang with Prudence, a lady's companion, being kidnapped by Bennet, a viscount who is in dire strains and in need of money to restore his estate. Burke takes this accidental kidnapping of the wrong woman into a trope filled exploration of character discovery. I was swept away in this forced proximity, only one bed, rained in romance. The first half of this novel is spent with Pru and Ben trapped in a small inn due to in-climate weather as well as carriage repairs. They both are able to take this time to really get to see each other in a new light and they learn to respect each other as their attraction to each other grows.

Prudence is a lovely heroine, she has spent the last few novels acting as lady's companion to two other women in the series, she is hardworking, independent, and so strong. In this novel we discover the secrets of her past and watching her journey is so heartwarming and delightful. Bennet is also such a caring man, yes he might start his relationship off on the wrong foot with Pru, but we quickly realize that his intensions are good and he has many people who rely on him and he just wants to keep his family and estate above water. I love watching these two together, they have a really lovely sizzling chemistry and Burke does a fantastic job bringing their relationship to a head. I found this novel to have a wonderful level of steam, especially for a historical romance, and watching these two trust each other with their bodies is really beautiful.

I so highly recommend not only this book, but this series as a whole. I find that this series is best consumed in order. Burke has built up a world of men and women who are friends, who support each other and she does a wonderful job building these relationships throughout the novels.

When Prudence is mistakenly kidnapped by Viscount Glastonbury they get stuck at an inn for a few days and feelings start to develop between the two. Glastonbury is in desperate need of money and he hopes to find a bride with a large dowry unfortunately, falling in love with a lady's companion will not solve his financial troubles.

I was looking forward to Prudence's story after we saw at the end of Intolerable a note that had seemingly been left by her saying she had eloped. Whilst the couple are trapped in the inn they do develop feelings for one another but because of Glastonbury's financial situation, they can't be together until something happens that forces them to marry.

I really like the romance between these two characters. I like Darcy Burke's writing and have been really enjoying reading this series. I can't wait for the next book to come out in this series.

I haven't read all the books in the series having read only one other but I have to say this is Darcy back at her very best. I loved this as much as some of the untouchables which I haven't done with some of the other books brought out since the untouchables. I received and eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love that Prudence has gotten her time in the spotlight. Forced by circumstance to be a ladies companion, she doesn’t believe that a advantageous marriage is in her cards. Bennett has had a turn of events where he is trying to keep not only himself but all those who depend on him afloat. But wait, that isn’t all, however I’m not spoiling it.

The characters are flawed, the plot is intriguing, and the events keep your attention engaged. This is a lovely addition to the legacy of the Phoenix Club. Can’t wait for the next one!

Prudence was no prude, so when she became the victim of a kidnapping gone wrong, she couldn’t resist the temptation to taste the nectar. It was a sassy, saucy, sexy, and exciting package, and Bennet had no hopes of escaping his erroneous error. It was delightfully entertaining.